Sept. 30, 1862 – Major Pinckney D. Bowles of the Conecuh
Guards was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Sept. 30, 1864 - Confederate General Robert E. Lee
counterattacked Union forces with several brigades moved from Petersburg, Va.

Sept. 30, 1864 - Union troops attacked Confederate defenses
around Petersburg, Va. at the Battle of Poplar Springs Church (Peeble's
Farm) with the intent to cut the last rail line into the city. The next day a
second attempt was unsuccessful.

Sept. 30, 1865 - Alabama's Constitutional Convention of
1865 adjourned. Although the 99 delegates repealed Alabama's
1861 Ordinance of Secession and declared slavery illegal, they
produced an essentially conservative document. Blacks were not given the right
to vote, representation was based on the white population only, and the
constitution was ratified without a vote by the people.

Sept. 30, 1888 – The infamous “double event” of “Jack the
Ripper” occurred as two more prostitutes - Liz Stride and Kate Eddowes - were
murdered and carved up on the same night.

Sept. 30, 1893 – The George W. Foster Camp of United
Confederate Veterans was organized in Monroe County, Ala.

Sept. 30, 1893 - Julia Tutwiler persuaded the Board of
Trustees of the University of Alabama to try a qualified form of co-education.
A faculty committee agreed to "admit young women of not less than 18 years
of age, of good character and antecedents, who are able to stand the necessary
examinations: for entrance to the sophomore class or higher." A required
proviso was that "suitable homes and protection" be provided. In the
fall of 1893, two women students entered the university.

Sept. 30, 1905 – Baseball pitcher John Thomas “Johnny” Allen
was born in Lenoir, North Carolina.

Sept. 30, 1912 – W.B. James assumed the duties of Evergreen, Ala. postmaster, replacing G.C. Dean, who had been postmaster for the past six
years.

Sept. 30, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. David J.
Fails of Excel, Ala. “died from disease.”

Sept. 30, 1927 – On the last day of the season against lefty
Tom Zachary of the Washington Senators, George Herman "Babe" Ruth hit
his 60th home run of the season, setting a record that would stand until 1961
when Roger Maris broke the record for most home runs in a single season.

Sept. 30, 1932 – Baseball pitching great John Joseph
“Johnny” Podres was born in Witherbee, N.Y.

Sept. 30, 1934 – St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Dizzy Dean won
his 30th game of the season in a 9-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

Sept. 30, 1939
– NBC broadcast the first televised American football game between the
Waynesburg Yellow Jackets and the Fordham Rams. Fordham won, 34-7.

Sept. 30, 1945 - Aliceville Camp, a prisoner-of-war camp in
Pickens County for members of German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s Africa Korps,
was deactivated. The camp was activated in December 1942 and eventually held
5,000 prisoners. Other German war prisoners were held in Alabama at camps in
Opelika, Fort McClellan, and Fort Rucker.

Sept. 30, 1947 - The World Series was televised for the
first time. The sponsors only paid $65,000 for the entire series between the
Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Yankees.

Sept. 30, 1954 – NBA basketball player and J.F. Shields High
School graduate John Drew was born in Vredenburgh, Ala.

Sept. 30, 1957 – On a Monday night in Frisco City, Ala., Frisco
City High School beat Repton, 41-0. The game was originally scheduled to be
played on Thurs., Sept. 26, but was postponed to Mon., Sept. 30, because of
rain.

Sept. 30, 1971 - The Washington Senators played their last
game in Washington, D.C. before moving to Arlington, Texas. They were forced to
forfeit the game to the New York Yankees when fans stormed the field in an
effort to take souvenirs.

Monday, September 29, 2014

I love a good Western, but I have to admit that there are a
lot of classic Western movies that I’ve never seen, especially those that came
out before 1980. Films that I would put in this category would include “Once
Upon a Time in the West,” which came out in 1968.

I’ve heard about this movie for years, but had never seen
it, which is why I put it on my “bucket list” a couple of years ago. On
Saturday night, thanks to NetFlix, I watched this movie from start to finish
and officially scratched it off my “bucket list.”

I put this movie on my “bucket list” after seeing it on
several “best-of” lists. Last year, IGN ranked “Once Upon a Time in the West”
No. 1 on its list of “Top 25 Westerns of All Time,” and AMC ranked it No. 20 on
its list of “Greatest Westerns.”

In 1999, Entertainment Weekly ranked “Once Upon a Time in
the West” No. 13 on a list called “Just Too Beloved to Ignore,” which was sort
of an honorable mention list to its list of “100 Greatest Movies of All Time.”
It was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress’ National Film
Registry in 2009.

For those of you unfamiliar with this great movie, it was
directed by Sergio Leone and was released in theaters on Dec. 21, 1968. The
cast included Charles Bronson, Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, Claudia Cardinale
and Gabriele Ferzetti. By today’s standards, this movie is rated PG-13 and is
about two hours and 45 minutes long.

The film is set in a fictional frontier town called
Flagstone and involves a fight over land that looks to be at an important stop
on a railroad that’s being constructed through the area. The original owner is
gunned down by hired outlaws just before his new wife steps off the train from
New Orleans. She arrives to find herself not only a wide, but alone against a
gang of hired killers.

Her knight in shining armors turns out to be a quirky
gunslinger who’s bent on revenge. Armed with a deadly pistol and his trademark
harmonica, he sets about defending the widow, making sure she doesn’t get
ripped off and keeping his eyes open for the man who killed his brother years
ago. Before it’s all said and done, the widow makes it out OK, and the good
guys come out on top.

I thought this movie was great, and I’d have no problem
watching it again. Also, aside from the gunplay, it was relatively clean,
especially compared to more modern movies. This was also my first real exposure
to young Charles Bronson. I knew he had a tough guy reputation, but now I know
why. If you’ve never seen this movie, I highly recommend it.

In the end, how many of you have seen “Once Upon a Time in
the West”? What did you think about it? What other classic Western movies would
you recommend? Let us know in the comments section below.

Evergreen weather reporter
Harry Ellis reported 1.28 inches of rain on Sept. 24, 3.10 inches of rain on
Sept. 25 and 1.10 inches of rain on Sept. 26. He also reported a high of 87
degrees on Sept. 23 and lows of 64 on Sept. 27 and Sept. 28.

“A big crowd was on hand for
the ribbon cutting at the new office of Horton Insurance. The insurance company
moved to their new location on Rural Street last Wednesday. Pictured at the
ribbon cutting are Chamber Executive Director Eric Basinger, Chamber President
Zebbie Nix, Horton Insurance Evergreen Office Manager Jim Ryan, Horton
Insurance Co. owner Earl Horton, Horton employees Deborah Ealum and Tonya Tolin
and Chamber board members Christy Bulger and Alesia Stuart.”

“The Conecuh County Board of
Education voted three to two to take bids for the sale of the National Guard
Armory that they purchased from the state. Superintendent Ronnie Brogden told
the board members that he had several inquiries about purchasing the building
from the board, and he wanted to know if they would like to take bids to sell
the building.”

“Under old business the
(Evergreen city) council brought back up the appointments to the Industrial
Development Authority. The council unanimously appointed Bobby Watkins to the
Industrial Development Board and Robert Bozeman to the Economic Development
Authority Board.”

27 YEARS AGO

OCT. 1, 1987

Evergreen weather reporter
Earl Windham reported no rain between Sept. 22 and Sept. 28. He reported a high
of 88 on Sept. 28 and lows of 52 on Sept. 25 and Sept. 26.

“Mrs. Carolyn Pate
Castleberry began her duties as Conecuh County Tax Collector today. She took
the oath of office Friday. Gov. Guy Hunt appointed Mrs. Castleberry to fill the
remainder of the term of office of Tax Collector Marvin Johnston who retired.
The term expires Sept. 30, 1991.”

“Mrs. Willene Whatley,
president and general chairman of the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce, holds a
plaque from the Southeast Tourism Society that designates the Conecuh Heritage
Festival as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast during October, November
and December.”

“Thomas Watson Spence, 79, of
Montgomery and a native of Conecuh County died Sat., Sept. 26, in a Montgomery
hospital. Mr. Spence was a member of a prominent, pioneer family and a former
superintendent of education of Macon County and a former sales representative
for Scott-Forman Book Co.”

“A positive rabies report was
made Tuesday on a coon found Sunday at Old Town. The coon was suspected to be
rapid and the report confirmed this, according to Jim Bricken, DVM, County
Rabies Inspector.”

42 YEARS AGO

OCT. 15, 1972

“It was announced this week
by the Board of Education that Wayne Pope had been appointed as County
Superintendent of Schools effective Oct. 1, 1972. This action was taken by the
Board of Education in a meeting held Tuesday night, Sept. 26, 1972 and the
appointment is to fill the unexpired term of Harvey G. Pate, who has submitted
his regsignation, effective as of this date.”

“Navy Petty Officer Third
Class Larry L. Andrews, son of Mr. Roland Andrews of Rt. D, Evergreen, has left
his homeport at Alameda, Calif., for a Western Pacific deployment aboard the
nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise.”

“City police department
employees and others at City Hall had a surprise party for retiring Chief Tom
Melton and presented him with a handsome gold wristwatch. Sgt. James Ellis was
named Acting Chief. Shown as they formed up for their last shift change under
Chief Melton are Mrs. Mildred McNeil, secretary, radio and teletype operator,
Melton, Assistant Chief Tal Smith, Henry Hooks, Ellis, Albert Salter, James
Powell, Jimmy Hawsey, Ronald Seales, Henry Vickery, Arthur Mason, radio
operator and Larry Morrison.”

57 YEARS AGO

OCT. 3, 1957

“Bozeman In For Bozeman: This
is the first issue of The Courant under new management in over 30 years.
However, we hope it won’t be considered exactly ‘new’ management. After all,
this new editor and publisher (R.G. ‘Bob’ Bozeman Jr.) grew up under the kind,
yet firm, tutelage of (R.G.) Bozeman Sr. You’ll find no drastic changes in
policy. The Courant will continue to be a family-type country weekly, and will
also continue, we hope, to be widely read one.

“Also, dear readers, we want
to assure you here and now that the popular column, ‘As A Man Thinketh’ will
continue to appear on the front page of the paper. It may not, the columnist
informs us, appear with the regularity it has in the past, but it will appear
as often as The Man Thinketh and Writeth.

“And, as for Bozeman, the
younger, let us mince no words. He is right proud to be back among the
homefolks, and more than happy to be at the helm of the paper on which he cut
his editorial teeth. You have been good and faithful to the elder. We ask for
your continued support of the younger.

“We will be here week after
week working always for what we believe the best interests of Evergreen and
Conecuh County. Call on us when we can help. Stand with us when we are right.
Bear with us when we are wrong.”

“Alma Martin, Post No. 50 of
the American Legion will honor veterans of World War I and the Korean War at a
special meeting Monday night, Oct. 21.”

72 YEARS AGO

OCT. 1, 1942

“Conecuh Gallows Irons Will
Continue Death Mission: Several hundred pounds of iron fixtures, parts of the
old gallows at the county jail, were released Tuesday by county officials to
the local salvage committee to be placed in the scrap metal now being
collected, and which will be used in the manufacture of war materials. So, it
will continue its mission of death, but in a somewhat different role. Perhaps
as a part of a tank, or airplane or maybe a shell or a gun.

“The old gallows has been in
disuse for nigh on to 20 years. The last occasion it was used was on Jan. 22,
1926 when Murray Rankins, negro, convicted of assaulting a white woman, was
hung. A.M. Barfield was sheriff at that time, and it was he who sprang the trap
which sent Rankins to his death. Not many years after that, hanging as a means
of putting criminals to death was outlawed and electrocution instead was
provided by law. Condemned persons are now electrocuted at Kilby State Prison.”

“Arrives Safely Overseas: Lt.
Laula Middleton has arrived safely overseas according to a cablegram which his
family received Saturday. The message was sent Fri., Sept. 25. His family
believes that he is in England or Ireland but there is no definite information to
this effect.”

“There are approximately 600
Conecuh County boys now in the various branches of military service of this
country…”

Sept. 29, 1862 - In Louisville, Ky., Union General Jefferson
Columbus Davis mortally wounded his commanding officer, General William Nelson.
Nelson had slapped Davis during a quarrel in a hotel lobby. Davis chased Nelson
upstairs and shot him. Davis was never court-martialed.

Sept. 29, 1864 - Union General Ulysses S. Grant attacked
forces under Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of New Market
Heights (Chaffin's Farm/Fort Harrison). The attempt failed.

Sept. 29, 1864 – J.W. Daniels of the Conecuh Guards was
wounded at Fort Harrison in Richmond, Va. He returned to Conecuh County after
the war.

Sept. 29, 1864 - Confederate General John Bell Hood began
tearing up the Western and Atlantic Railroad.

Sept. 29, 1888 – Dr. Samuel S. Gaillard was born in Perdue
Hill. A third generation doctor, he was the first intern at Mobile Infirmary
when it opened in 1910. He was a specialist in radiology and roentgenology and
served in WWI and WWII. He attended West Point Military Academy, Louisville
(Ky.) Medical School and graduated from the University of Alabama Medical
School in 1910.

Sept. 29, 1895 – Joseph Banks “J.B.” Rhine, widely
considered to be the "father of modern parapsychology," was born in
Waterloo, Pa.

Sept. 29, 1896 – Confederate Gen. Nathan B. Forrest moved
northward from the Sulphur Branch Trestle Fort in Limestone County, which he
captured four days earlier, to destroy other bridges after sending prisoners
southward to the Tennessee River.

Sept. 29, 1890 – Outlaw train robber Rube Burrow arrived at
the home of John Barnes near Castleberry, four weeks after his eighth and final
train robbery near Flomaton. After breakfast, Burrow departed, headed for
Repton.

Sept. 29, 1942 – Conecuh County officials released several
hundred pounds of iron fixtures that were parts of the old gallows at the
Conecuh County Jail in Evergreen to the local salvage committee for use in the
manufacture of war materials. The old gallows hadn’t been used since the
county’s last legal execution on Jan. 22, 1926.

Sept. 29, 1951 - The first network football game was
televised by CBS-TV in color. The game was between the University of California
and the University of Pennsylvania.

Sept. 29, 1954 - Willie Mays, centerfielder for the New York
Giants, made his amazing over-the-shoulder catch of a fly ball hit by Cleveland
Indians first baseman Vic Wertz to rob Wertz of extra bases in Game 1 of the
1954 World Series. The catch has gone down as one of the greatest in the
history of baseball.

Sept. 29, 1957 - The New York Giants played their last game
at the Polo Grounds before moving to San Francisco, Calif.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

The Monroe Journal newspaper in Monroeville published four
editions 50 years ago during the month of September 1964. Those papers came out
on Sept. 3, Sept. 10, Sept. 17 and Sept. 24. Bill Stewart was the newspaper’s
publisher, Fred Nall was editor and Merrill Bankester was news editor. What
follows are a few new highlights from each of those papers. Enjoy.

SEPT. 3, 1964

Robbery Suspect Pleads Guilty; One Out On Bond: Two Brewton
Men Held For Repton Hold-up: One of the two men arrested in connection with the
robbery of the Union Bank at Repton June 20 has pleaded guilty to robbery
charges and the second man has been released under $20,000 bond.

Lawrence Earl Vonderau, 20, who has been charged with the
actual hold-up when the bank was robbed of $16,386 by a gunman, pleaded guilty
before Judge Daniel H. Thomas in Mobile Aug. 22. He will be sentenced later.

Junior Wesley Bernard, 30, charged with driving the car
which the two men escaped in, was released on $20,000 bond and will file a plea
before Judge Thomas later.

The two men were arrested in Brewton Aug. 14 by FBI agents
following two months of investigation by the FBI, Escambia County Sheriff G.S.
Bryne’s office and Conecuh Sheriff James Brock’s office.

At the time of their arrests, $2,350 of the stolen money was
recovered by the FBI from Mr. Vonderau. According to the FBI, Mr. Vonderau is
an unemployed service station attendant. Mr. Bernard is manager of a parts in
Brewton.

Oral Polio Vaccine To Be Given Again In Monroe County: The
feeding of the oral type polio vaccine will again be given in Monroe County, it
was announced this week by Dr. E.F. Goldsmith, county health officer.

Dr. Goldsmith said the three doses of Sabin vaccine will be
given to those who failed to get the vaccine during the three-month period,
March, April and May, and also for those who did not get all three types.

The feedings will again be given over a three-month period,
starting Sept. 14.

Schools To Open In County Friday: Parents and students were
reminded this week by R.H. Vickery, county superintendent, of the opening of
schools Friday (tomorrow).

The first full day of classes will be Tues., Sept. 8, Mr.
Vickery said, and the final day, May 27.

New Police Chief At Frisco City: G.A. (Pete) Hawkins assumed
the duties as new Chief of Police of Frisco City Aug. 10, replacing N.S.
Coleman.

Whippets Player Out For Season: The Frisco City High School
Whippets suffered a set back in their hopes for the coming football season with
the loss of two-year letterman Larry DeWise.

Coach Leon Jackson said DeWise, the only returning letterman
at the center position, suffered a brain concussion in practice last Monday
afternoon.

First Game Set Sept. 12: After a dismal 1-8-1 season last
year, Excel’s High School Panthers expect to be bigger and better when their
first game rolls around Sept. 12.

Back this year will be 13 lettermen which includes eight in
the line and five in the backfield.

Coach Ed Comer listed a number of prospects who will help.
They include Stanley Wilson (125) and Tommy Jordan (140) at the halfback
positions. Laden Wright (140) at end and tackles Danny Simpson (178) and
Michael Turberville (145).

Excel defeated rival Repton, 24-0, for their only win last
year and tied Lyeffion, 6-6, in the opening game of the season. Other close
games listed by Coach Comer were Leroy, 7-6, and Silas, 12-0. Other games lost
by one or two touchdowns were Camden, 27-13; county and conference foe, Uriah,
28-12, and conference rival Grove Hill, 27-13. Frisco City defeated Excel,
12-0, Coffeeville, 39-19, and Monroeville, 42-19. In the loss to Monroeville,
that was the first time in five years three touchdowns had been scored against
the MCHS Tigers.

SEPT. 10, 1964

Progress Continues On New Airport: Progress on the Monroe
County airport is continuing, reported Walter Agee, chairman of the Monroe
County Airport Development Committee.

Mr. Agee said the airport, which will be located about four
miles south of Monroeville, near Highway 84, is being cleared now of timber and
stumps so that grading could begin soon.

Four County Teams To Open Season: All four county schools open
their football seasons with defending county and Pine Belt champions
Monroeville and J.U. Blacksher’s Bulldogs getting an early start.

The MCHS Tigers play the Bulldogs Thursday night in Uriah.

Frisco City opens Friday night against T.R. Miller of Brewton
in Frisco City, and Excel plays at home Saturday night against Lyeffion.

Monroeville won the county and Pine Belt championship last
year with an 8-1-1 record. Expected to give the Tigers their strongest
competition for the crowns this year is the Whippets from Frisco City, which
also finished with an 8-1-1 record last year. But the one loss was to
Monroeville, 33-7, and the tie to conference foe Grove Hill, 13-13.

Excel hopes to better its record this year. Prospects look
brighter with 13 returning lettermen. The Panthers finished 1-8-1 last season.

He will report to Camp Lejeune, N.C. for combat infantry
training following graduation.

DEADLY MENACES: Bobby Colquett, Monroe County High School
Student, killed these two moccasins last Thursday at the Vanity Fair Park Lake.
Bobby said he was fishing in the lake Thursday night when he saw the moccasins.

SEPT. 17, 1964

Log Truck Rams Moving Freight Train at Corduroy Crossing: A
Beatrice colored man was killed instantly early Wednesday when the log truck he
was driving collided with a freight train at Corduroy, near Beatrice.

According to the engineer of the train, the driver of the
truck made no visible effort to stop or swerve to the side as the vehicle
plowed into the side of the second unit of the duel diesel engine pulling a
long line of freight cars. There were no skid marks on the highway.

The impact against the engine twisted one of the steel
rails, causing the engine to drop to the cross ties and seven freight cars to
derail and pile up.

The badly mangled body of the victim was pinned under a pile
of wreckage and some time was required to remove it to an ambulance.

According to State Trooper Angus Whitley, who investigated
the accident, the dead man was identified as Ollie Lewis Montgomery of
Beatrice. The truck was owned by Peterman Lumber Co. of Peterman. The engineer
was identified as Wilson Bishop Merrit Sr. of Pensacola, Fla. Riding in the
engine cab with the engineer was C.C. King, flagman.

Man Found Dead In Motel Room: A salesman with a Mobile firm
was found dead in his motel room in Monroeville Tuesday morning but no foul
play was involved, according to authorities.

County Coroner Julius Johnson said Robert Finley Hill, about
56, of Prichard, died apparently from natural causes.

Mr. Johnson said the man had asked the motel attendants to
call him Tuesday morning and when they couldn’t get an answer they went into
his room and found Mr. Hill lying on the bed. They called Mr. Johnson who
pronounced him dead.

Oscar W. McCrory Enters Pharmacy School In Georgia: Oscar W.
McCrory (Billy) of Frisco City received an honorable discharge from the U.S.
Air Force, Sept. 10, after serving over four years. Stationed at Orlando AFB,
Fla., he was NCO in charge of the Pediatric Clinic.

Mr. McCrory, his wife, Dianne, and their two daughters will
reside in Bremen, Ga., where Mr. McCrory will attend the School of Pharmacy at
the University of Georgia.

Excel Racks Up 25-0 Win Over Lyeffion: The Excel Panthers
rolled to an opening game, 25-0, victory over the Lyeffion Yellow Jackets at
Excel Friday night.

The Panthers lost little time in scoring. They took the
opening kickoff and marched 70 yards in 11 plays for their first score. Randy
Anners climaxed the drive with a 30-yard scoring run.

Quarterback Johnny Stokes turned in the longest touchdown
run of the night going 50 yards in the second quarter with the help of good
downfield blocking by Excel linemen.

Wayne Wright, workhorse for the Panthers, broke loose for a
42-yard run before being hauled down on the Lyeffion four. With 1:42 remaining
in the half, Anners circled left end for the final four yards and his second TD
of the night. Stokes converted for the PAT.

Randall Scruggs closed out the Panthers scoring in the third
period when he raced 22 yards for a touchdown with an intercepted pass.

Leading ground gainers for Excel were Wright who had 111
yards on 11 carries; Wayne Dawson, 80 yards on 10 carries; Stokes, 63 yards on
five carries; Anners, 49 yards on six carries; Kenneth Stokes, 34 yards on six
carries; Stanley Wilson, 23 yards on seven carries; and Terry Stacey, six yards
on one carry.

Jackson Principal Named PB Head: Frank Barbaree, principal
of Jackson High School, has been elected president of the Pine Belt Conference,
an organization of 12 high schools in Clarke, Washington, Choctaw and Monroe
counties.

Board of control members are Principal Fred M. (Tick)
Scoggins of Uriah, Coach Ed Godwin of Millry and Coach Rex Jackson of Grove
Hill.

“Uriah Dumps MCHS Tigers 12-7 In Season’s Opener: J.U.
Blacksher surprised the Monroeville Tigers with a 12-7 win in the season’s
opener for both teams last Thursday night on the Bulldogs home field in Uriah.”

Joe Cardwell scored Blacksher’s first touchdown on a
one-yard run, but the Bulldogs didn’t get the PAT. Ray Raybon scored
Blacksher’s second touchdown on a four-yard run, and they didn’t get the
ensuing PAT. MCHS’s touchdown came on a 16-yard run by Johnny Brannon, and Mike
Segers added the extra point.

Other outstanding Blacksher players in that game included
Billy Harris and Larry Harris. Other outstanding MCHS players in the game
included Grantham, Randy McDonald, Melvin Middleton, Coy Tatum and Seth
Watkins.

Ready For Finishing Touches: Read for the finishing touches
is the new 1,850-seat stadium at Vanity Fair Park. Coach James Allen said the
new seats will be ready for the opening of the MCHS Tigers first home game
Friday night, Sept. 25. He also said there are a few more reserved seats left
in the new stands. A new press box will be built at the top of the stadium with
dressing rooms built underneath.

The victory was the first for Miller over the Whippets and
also the first time they had scored since 1957.

Even though Miller picked up only one first down in the
first half, they led at halftime, 6-0. Halfback Mike Sasser broke loose for a
40-yard gallop for the lone score. The PAT was blocked.

Gordon Brown led the Whippets on defense on tackles and
assists, backed up by Jack Kelly and Larry Eddins.

On offense, Johnny King and Larry Jones led the Frisco City
ball carriers.

SEPT. 24, 1964

M&R To Abandon Local Operations: The Interstate Commerce
Commission has authorized the Manistee and Repton Railroad Co. to abandon its
operations between Monroeville and Monroeton.

The federal agency also authorized the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad Co. to take over operation of the M&R tracks between the
two points.

The commission issued its ruling Sept. 14 and allows a
period of one year in which to complete the transfer.

Frisco RR Seeks To Close Station: Application for the
closing of the Fountain station by the Frisco Railway Co. will be made to the
Alabama Public Service Commission, according to a notice posted by the company.

The Fountain station is for freight only and is on the
Pensacola to Amory, Miss. line, which connects Birmingham and St. Louis.

Freight which would ordinarily be shipped or received at the
Fountain station would be handled at the Mexia station if the petition is
approved by the commission.

Corporation papers for the forming of a lime chalk mining
company were filed in probate court last Friday.

Formed as the Claiborne Lime Co., Inc., the $70,000
corporation will produce agricultural lime.

The company expects to begin operation about the first of
November with an initial employment of 10 persons.

The mining plant will be located about two miles southwest
of Perdue Hill in a field of lime chalk which was termed very good by Mr.
(William L.) Wells.

Whippets Even Record With Win Over Excel: The Frisco City
Whippets evened its record at 1 and 1 Friday night with an 18-6 win over the
Excel Panthers, whose record also stands at 1 and 1.

Excel received the opening kickoff but failed to net a first
down and was forced to punt.

Putting the ball in play at their own 25 yard line, the
Whippets appeared to have a drive going but the threat ended with an
interception of a Boothe pass by linebacker Charles Godwin at the midfield
stripe.

After running into a tough Frisco City defense again, the
Panthers had to punt. Starting deep in their own territory, the Whippets
started out on their first touchdown drive, climaxed by a two-yard plunge by
fullback Larry Eddins. Mike Johns’ kick for the extra point failed when it went
wide to the right of the goal posts.

After the kick off and a failure to gain a first down, Excel
punted again to the Whippets who matched their previous drive for a touchdown.

Halfback Larry Jones put Frisco City ahead 12-0 with a
six-yard jaunt into the end zone. The PAT try failed.

Excel picked up its first first down of the half shortly
before the end of the first half of play.

The Whippets continued its touchdown desires in the third
period of play, moving 55 yards for their final touchdown of the night.

Halfbacks Johnny King and Jones ate up most of the yardage
in this drive with King getting the last yard on a lunge over the middle of the
line. An attempted pass for the extra point failed and the Whippets had their
18 points for the night.

The remainder of the second half saw neither team able to
put on a sustained drive until seven minutes remained in the game.

The Panthers grabbed a Frisco fumble and returned it to the
Whippets 15 yard line before second team quarterback Jim Kelly caught the
runner from behind.

Halfback Wayne Wright broke into the scoring for the
Panthers going over from the two yard line. Quarterback John Stokes’ attempted
PAT pass to right end Charles Godwin was broken up by Johnny King.

Frisco City took the kickoff and seemed to have another
drive underway but time ran out to end the game before it could materialize.

Tigers Drop Game To Fairhope: The Monroe County High School
Tigers lost a squeaker at the hands of Fairhope, 10-7, on the Pirates’ home
field in Fairhope Friday night. The winning tally came on a field goal with
just 20 seconds remaining in the game.

(Monroe County’s only score came on a 19-yard run by quarterback
Seth Watkins. Mike Segers kicked the extra point.)

Sept. 28, 1824 – During his tour of the United States, the
Marquis de Lafayette visited Philadelphia and gave a speech at the State House
(Independence Hall) under Philadelphian architect William Strickland's
Triumphal Arches.

Sept. 28, 1863 - Union Generals Alexander M. McCook and
Thomas Crittenden lose their commands and are ordered to Indianapolis, Indiana,
to face court of inquiry charges following the Federal defeat at the Battle of
Chickamauga.

Sept. 28, 1892 - The first nighttime football game in the
U.S. took place under electric lights. The game was between the Mansfield State
Normal School and the Wyoming Seminary.

Sept. 28, 1894 – Monroe County tax collector W.J. Robinson
died, and his son F.E. Robinson was appointed to fill his unexpired term.

Sept. 28, 1914 – The second series of “The Adventures of
Kathlyn” was shown at the Arcade Theatre in Evergreen.

Sept. 28, 1919 - The New York Giants beat Philadelphia
Phillies 6-1 in a day game that lasted 51 minutes. The time set a National
League record.

Sept. 28, 1920 - Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were
indicted in what was called the "Black Sox" scandal. They were
accused of throwing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Sept. 28, 1926 – Country comedian Jerry Clower was born in
Liberty, Miss.

Sept. 28, 1939 – The Monroe Journal reported that W.M.
Mullins of Wetumpka had replaced Frank Sheffiled as manager of the Alabama
Water Service Co. in Monroeville. Sheffiled had been manager for about a year
prior to resigning.

Sept. 28, 1941 - The Boston Red Sox's Ted Williams played a
double-header against the Philadelphia Athletics on the last day of the regular
season and got six hits in eight trips to the plate, to boost his batting
average to .406 and became the first player since Bill Terry in 1930 to hit
.400.

Sept. 28, 1955 - The World Series was televised in color for
the first time. The game was between the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn
Dodgers.

Sept. 28, 1960 - At Boston’s Fenway Park, Red Sox star Ted
Williams hit a home run in the last at-bat of his 21-year career. He finished
his career with a total of 521 home runs.

Sept. 28, 1987 - The first episode of "Star Trek: The
Next Generation," a two-hour pilot called “Encounter at Farpoint,” aired
to 27 million viewers.

Sept. 28, 1995 - Randy Myers of the Chicago Cubs was charged
by a 27-year-old man while standing in the outfield. Myers saw him coming,
dropped his glove and knocked the man down with his forearm.

Sept. 28, 2001 - Courtney Love filed a claim against Geffen
Records and two musicians from her late husband's band, Nirvana. The suit was
aimed at invalidating a 1997 agreement over the group's body of work. Love
claimed that she signed the deal while she was distressed.

Sept. 28, 2012 – The “Solomon Kane” movie, directed by
Michael J. Bassett and starring James Purefoy, was released in the U.S.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator
George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere
in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Ghostly figure guards grave
marker in cemetery,” was originally published in the Oct. 29, 1992 edition of
The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

For many years, the old church sat back under the huge
ancient oak trees. On moonlit nights, the shadows played back and forth as the
huge limbs of the trees swayed in the night breezes.

Only once in a while would there be enough people to get
together for services at the old church. Since there were no means to heat or
light the old building, only during the most ideal weather did a few local
people gather for the short services held on the first Sunday of each month. On
an average, there were only about five or six worship services held in the
small, one-room building in a year.

Only a short distance from the church building was the
cemetery. Several tall grave markers on nights of the full moon cast their
shadows at crazy angles across the smaller tombs as though trying to cover or
hide those that weren’t as large or as noticeable as those that stood so boldly
in the pale moonlight.

The cemetery dates back to the very early 1800s. Many tales
were told and re-told about some of those who were buried there. There were
tales about some of the deceased and about their cruelty to their farm animals
and their farm workers.

Cruel old man

One tale was about a certain old farmer who would hire farm
workers, and after these people had worked hard all day, he would scream and
curse, refusing to pay them for their day’s work. He would tell them that their
work had not been satisfactory; then he would order them off his property.

As a young boy who grew up in the area, I have seen the
large tombstone of this old man many, many times. On the very top of the large
grave marker is a small granite vase about the size of a small drinking glass.

Many tales were told about how no one dared go in the
cemetery during the hours around midnight to remove this granite vase from the
old man’s tomb. The story is that anyone who tries to carry the small vase from
the cemetery is turned back by some unknown force before they reached the old
iron gate that leads out of the cemetery.

In the early years of the old church, the members traveled
to and from worship services by wagon or buggy or horseback. Shortly after the
death of Mr. Sol, the old man mentioned earlier, it was almost impossible to
have night services without the horses being frightened by a ghostly figure of
a man that appeared out of the cemetery.

The horses would break away from their hitching posts and
charge away into the darkness, sometimes causing damage to the wagons and
buggies and scattering family belongings over the churchyard and nearby field.
The story is that the church would appoint two men each night during worship
services to sit outside and watch the horses and keep them quiet.

Many stories were told of a ghostly figure slowly appear
from behind the large tombstone of Mr. Sol to make its way toward the area
where the horses were tied to the hitching posts. Upon seeing this ghostly
figure coming toward them, the animals would panic and race off into the night.
If the ghostly figure of the old man was seen soon enough, the two men who had
been posted outside would rush toward the ghostly figure and wave their arms.
The ghost of the old man would then turn and go back to the huge grave marker
that marked his final resting place; there he would disappear. The spirit of
the old man would not appear again that night to frighten or bother the
animals.

During late October, in the year 1918, the youth of the
farming community had gotten together for a night of frolicking and to have a country
candy pulling. As always, the challenge went out to those present. Was anyone
there brave enough to go up to the cemetery and remove the small vase from the
tombstone of Mr. Sol?

A young lady from another county, who was visiting her
cousin in the community, accepted the challenge. Against the advice of her
cousin, the group accompanied her to within a short distance of the old church
and cemetery.

Large grave marker

No one in the group believed that she would go through with
the challenge. But slowly she made her way up to the old cast-iron gate that
led to the cemetery, while the others waited at the outer edge of the church
yard. After hearing the old iron gate open, she could be seen in the pale
moonlight, climbing up on the side of the large grave marker and taking down
the small granite vase that sat on top.

As the shadows from the clouds overhead crept across the old
church yard, the group that awaited a short distance from the old cemetery
heard the old iron gate close shut. Knowing that their friend would soon
appear, the group awaited in breathtaking quietness.

Only the flutter of the falling oak leaves broke the night
silence. Minutes passed as all looked toward the old cemetery, hoping to see
their friend coming across the church yard with the small granite vase. But no
sign of their friend could be seen in the faint moonlight.

Then, one of the group pointed, toward the tall granite
tombstone of Mr. Sol. From behind the large marker emerged a shadowy, ghostly
figure of a man. The ghostly figure moved at a rapid pace toward the old iron
gate at the front of the cemetery. As it reached the iron gate, the shadowy
figure appeared to bend down and pick up something from the ground. Then it
returned to the tall burial marker and disappeared behind it.

Fearing that something had happened to their friend, the
group of young people rushed across the church yard toward the cemetery gate.
As they reached it, there on the ground lay their friend; a small portion of
her dress was caught in the latch of the iron gate. The young girl was dead. It
appeared that when her dress caught in the latch, and she started to walk away,
she must have thought someone was holding her; she apparently had died from
extreme fright.

Two days later, a group of the menfolk within the community
went to the old cemetery to try and solve the mystery that surrounded the young
girl’s death. In the red clay near the old gate, they found the imprint of the
small granite vase that sat atop the large grave marker. The young girl must
have dropped the small, heavy vase when her dress became caught in the latch of
the old gate.

A close examination of the granite vase that now rested atop
the large tombstone revealed traces of the same red clay that was in abundance
around the old cemetery gate and in the church yard. Who had returned the vase
back to its place atop of the huge grave marker?

Those of the group who saw the ghostly figure hurry toward
the old gate that fateful night say that the ghost of Mr. Sol, the cruel old
man buried there, was re-claiming that which belonged to him. In death, as in
life, he still wanted it all; all that was his, and all that wasn’t.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and
Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime
resident of Monroeville, he was born on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County and
served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from 1964 to
1987. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all
of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm
records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns
are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part
of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)

Sept. 27, 1830 - The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was a
signed between the Choctaw Indian tribe and the United States Government. This
was the first removal treaty carried into effect under the Indian Removal Act.
Under the treaty, the Choctaw Nation ceded to the United States all their land
east of the Mississippi River, about 11 million acres, including parts of west
Alabama in exchange for about 15 million acres in the Indian territory,
present-day Oklahoma. Not all Choctaws moved west, however, and descendants
living in Alabama are recognized by the state as the MOWA Band of Choctaw
Indians, who have their tribal office at McIntosh.

Sept. 27, 1888 – The Central News Agency of London received
the famous “Dear Boss” letter, which was a message allegedly written by the
notorious serial killer, “Jack the Ripper.” It was the first time the
"Jack the Ripper" name had been used to refer to the killer.

Sept. 27, 1906 - Following several days of heavy
rains, a powerful hurricane wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast, killing
dozens in the Mobile area and causing millions of dollars in property damage.
The editor of The Mobile Register called the hurricane
"the greatest storm in the history of the city and by far the most
damaging."

Sept. 27, 1919 – The first ever high school football game in
the history of Monroe County was played when Monroe County High School’s team
faced the “Town Boys” in Monroeville.

Sept. 27, 1923 - Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees hit his
first of 493 career home runs.

Sept. 27, 1930 - Hack Wilson of the Chicago Cubs hit two
home runs to give him 56 for the year.

Sept. 27, 1935 – The first ever night football game in
Monroe County history was played on this day at J.U. Blacksher High School at
Uriah, the first school in the county to have a lighted field. Blacksher played
Repton, but the final score is unknown. The game likely ended in a 0-0 tie.

Sept. 27, 1940 - William Henry Hasty, believed to have been
Monroe County’s last surviving Confederate veteran, passed away. Born on Sept.
9, 1846, he served as 5th Sgt. with Co. F of the 36th Alabama Regiment and
would go on to become a Methodist minister. He is buried in Excel Cemetery.

Sept. 27, 1941 – Alabama baseball great Virgil Trucks made
his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers.

Sept. 27, 1951 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Army
Cpl. Johnny R. Stowers of Evergreen had joined the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division
on the front lines in Korea.

Sept. 27, 1953 - The St. Louis Browns played their final
game before moving to Baltimore to become the Orioles.

Sept. 27, 1963 – Frisco City quarterback Joe Kelly was named
the Birmingham Post-Herald’s “Back of the Week” for his performance in a 21-12
win over Jackson.

Sept. 27, 1964 – The Houston Colt .45s played their final game
at Colts Stadium. They lost 1-0 to Los Angeles in 12 innings.

Sept. 27, 1964 - The Warren Commission issued a report on
the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy in November of 1963. The
report concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald had acted alone.

Sept. 27, 1973 - Nolan Ryan of the California Angels struck
out 16 batters for the Minnesota Twins. The feat established a modern day
single season mark of 383 strikeouts in a season.

Sept. 27, 1996 - Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants
became the second MLB player to record 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in the
same year.

Sept. 27, 1998 - Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals set
a major league baseball record when he hit his 70th home run of the season.
Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs ended the season with 66 home runs. Both players
surpassed Roger Maris' record of 61.

Sept. 27, 1998 - Greg Vaughn of the San Diego Padres hit his
50th home run of the season. It marked the first time that four players
finished the regular season with 50 or more home runs.

Sept. 27, 1999 – In the last game was played at Tiger
Stadium, the Detroit Tigers defeated the Kansas City Royals, 8-2.

Sept. 27, 2000 - Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles
signed a 12-year contract that involved a $20.5 million signing bonus. The deal
made McNabb the highest paid NFL player in history.

Friday, September 26, 2014

It’s the last week of the month, so this week I’m giving you
an update on UFO reports in Alabama from the previous month, courtesy of the
Mutual UFO Network.

A search for UFO reports in Alabama between Aug. 1 and Aug.
31 on MUFON’s website, www.mufon.com, resulted in eight reports from within our
state during that time.

The first incident occurred on Sun., Aug. 3, around 9:25
p.m. in Hanceville in Cullman County. The witness in this case was an amateur
astronomer who was looking at the moon through a telescope when he noticed an
unusual light near the upper portion of the moon. He watched the light grow
brighter and then two more lights appeared on the lower right portion of the
moon, where it was dark.

The witness said the lights were oblong-shaped, appeared to
come out of a shaft or tube and pointed in different directions. The witness,
who called the lights “very weird and unsettling,” said he’d seen a lot of
things in the night sky before but had no explanation for these unusual lights.

The second incident occurred during the daylight hours on
Mon., Aug. 4, in Fort Payne in DeKalb County. The witness in this case was
taking pictures of the clouds overhead and when he downloaded his pictures he
noticed something unusual. In three of the photos, you could see a round, black
object that appeared to be hovering inside one of the clouds.

The third incident occurred during the day on Sun., Aug. 10,
in Munford in Talladega County. The witness in this case was standing at the
end of the Pulpit Rock Trail at Cheaha State Park and was taking pictures of
the mountain slope topped by the Cheaha Mountain Restaurant. Suddenly and
without warning, he saw two, “fuzzy-looking disks, flitting around in the sky”
over the restaurant.

Both objects eventually “streaked away to the north at
incredible velocity.” The objects were gray, made no noise and appeared to fly
in a pattern as if searching for something. The witness said he was “amazed and
stunned” to see such a thing.

The fourth incident occurred on Mon., Aug. 18, around 6:14
a.m. in Rainbow City in Etowah County. The witness in this case was looking
east in the direction of Gadsden when he saw a “black, orb-like thing floating
up towards the south.” At first he thought it was a balloon, but as he watched,
it’s shape changed.

“It went from the orb shape to a flat shape,” the witness
said. The object traveled slower than a plane, but was fast “like a helicopter
searching for something.” The object then began to hover over something to the
southeast, and after a few minutes, it flew north and began to hover once more.
As a storm approached, the object was absorbed by the cloud cover and it
completely disappeared after five to 10 minutes.

The fifth incident occurred later that same day, around
10:30 p.m., near Russellville in Franklin County. The witness in this case was
driving south on U.S. Highway 43 when he saw a sudden series of green and blue
flashes to the southeast. As the witness slowed down, he watched as the clouds began
to glow “with lights that seemed to be scanning outward.”

As he continued to watch, he saw an object descend beneath
the clouds, and the object radiated two beams of “circular, maybe slightly
oval, lights in two parallel lines.” The witness said the “light show”
continued for sometime before the object flew away to the southeast. Five or 10
minutes later, as the witness began to enter Russellville on Highway 43, the
strange object reappeared in the sky, but disappeared a short time later.

The sixth incident occurred on Thurs., Aug. 21, around 8:30
p.m. in Florence in Lauderdale County. The witnesses in this case saw two
separate lights that looked like stars, but moved rapidly across the sky and in
different directions before fading from view. At first, the witnesses thought
the objects were shooting stars, but ruled this out because they were visible
for far too long and moved too far across the night sky in a short amount of
time. The reporting witness said the sighting made him “nervous” and that the incident
“was just eerie.”

The seventh incident occurred on Fri., Aug. 22, around 3:30
a.m. in Killen in Lauderdale County. The witness in this case was standing
outside smoking when he looked to the south and saw a flash of light. The light
started out about the size of a star, but as he watched it brightened and grew
to “about the size of a dime fully extended at arm’s reach.” The light then
shrank back to its original size, went black and disappeared.

Less than 10 seconds later, the star-sized light reappeared
further to the east. He watched as it brightened and “lit up the sky, like a
burst of light” before disappearing once more. The witness in this case also
reported feeling nervous, scared and excited, and goose bumps broke out all
over his body, he said.

The eighth incident occurred on Thurs., Aug. 28, around 8:45
p.m. in Homewood in Jefferson County. The witness in this case reported seeing
a “solid, bright, white, circular-shaped object” move silently across the sky
over a five-minute period. The witness watched as it flew down to the level of
nearby power lines, and faded to black “as if it had a dimmer switch and slowly
turned it down.”

Before closing out this week, I just want to put it out
there again that I would be very interested to hear from anyone who have
witnessed a UFO, especially in Conecuh County. I think a lot of other people
would be interested in hearing your story too, and I’m willing to accept your
report anonymously. You can contact me by e-mail at courantsports@earthlink.net
or by phone at 578-1492.

Sept. 26, 1864 - A guerilla band of 200 gathered under
William "Bloody Bill" Anderson near the town of Centralia, Missouri.
The next morning Anderson led 30 guerillas into the town and looted the community
and terrorized residents.

Sept. 26, 1872 – The first Shriners Temple (called Mecca)
was established in New York City.

Sept. 26, 1888 – Poet T.S. Eliot was born in St. Louis, Mo.

Sept. 26, 1905 – Holdings of the Bear Creek Mill Co. were
sold to V.J. Herlong and the United Lumber Co.

Sept. 26, 1908 - Ed Eulbach of the Chicago Cubs became the
first baseball player to pitch both games of a doubleheader and win both with
shutouts.

Sept. 26, 1914 – The George W. Foster Camp No. 407, United
Confederate Veterans, met in Monroeville to elect delegates for the upcoming
state reunion in Mobile.

Sept. 26, 1919 - The St. Louis Browns defeated the New York
Yankees 6-2 in a game that lasted 55 minutes. The game was the second game of a
doubleheader.

Sept. 26, 1930 – H.P. Lovecraft completed “The Whisperer in
Darkness,” which was originally published in the August 1931 issue of Weird
Tales.

Sept. 26, 1934 - The RMS Queen Mary was launched. After the
ocean liner was permanently docked in Long Beach, Calif., reports of ghosts and
paranormal activity emerged. The most haunted section of the ship is said to be
the engine room where a young sailor was crushed to death.

Sept. 26, 1957 – Future major league first baseman and Leroy
native Kelvin Orlando Moore was born. He would go on to play three seasons for
the Oakland A’s.

Sept. 26, 1957 – Lyeffion High School was scheduled to open
their 1957 football season against Beatrice High School at Lyeffion, but that
game was not played because the flu “laid low about half of the Eagle squad.”

Sept. 26, 1958 – Alabama baseball great Virgil Trucks, then
a pitcher for the New York Yankees, appeared in his final major league baseball
game.

Sept. 26, 1962 - Maury Wills of the Los Angeles Dodgers
became the first player to steal 100 bases in a season. He ended the season
with 104.

Sept. 26, 1969 – Air Force A1C Michael David Gunnels of
Andalusia was killed in action in Vietnam.

Sept. 26, 1971 – Marine Sgt. Charles Wayne Turberville, 21,
of Finchburg was killed while on duty at the American Embassy in Phnom Penhm,
Cambodia during a Khmer Rouge terrorist attack. Born on July 17, 1950, he
graduated from Monroe County High School, joined the Marines and became a
member of the prestigious Marine Security Guard Battalion. He was buried at
Bryant Cemetery at Finchburg.

Sept. 26, 1971 - Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jim Palmer wins
his 20th game of the year, becoming the fourth Orioles pitcher to win 20 games
in the 1971 season. This made the 1971 Orioles pitching staff the first since
that of the 1920 Chicago White Sox to field four 20-game winners. The other
20-game winners were Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar and Pat Dobson.

Sept. 26, 1972 – Conecuh County Superitendent of Education
Harvey G. Pate resigned and was replaed by Wayne Pope, who was appointed to
fill Pate’s unexpired term by the Conecuh County Board of Education.

Sept. 26, 1981 - Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros became the
first player to pitch five no-hitters with a 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles
Dodgers.

Sept. 26, 1987 – Conecuh County native Thomas Watson Spence,
79, of Montgomery passed away in a Montgomery hospital. He was a former Macon
County Superintendent of Education and former sales representative for
Scott-Forman Book Co.

Sept. 26, 1998 - Mark McGwire hit home runs 67 and 68 for
the season.

Sept. 26, 1998 - Dennis Eckersly of the Boston Red Sox
appeared in his 1,071st game.